Beginner in Chinese?

Chinese New Year Song – May You Be Prosperous

Here’s a Chinese song to get you in the Chinese New Year mood! May You Be Prosperous (恭喜发财) by Andy Lau (刘德华).

If you’ve been in China around the Chinese New Year, you’ve probably heard this one before, even if you don’t know what it’s called. You hear it in shops and restaurants, and it gets stuck in your head without you even knowing it.

Andy Lau is a singer and actor from Hong Kong (most people seem to think that he’s better at the acting than he is at singing), and this is one of the songs that has really gained him recognition in mainland China (it’s in Mandarin, and he often sings in Cantonese).

The video that goes along with the song is really funny, and the festive firecracker sounds and traditional Chinese instruments will really get you in the mood!

Here are the lyrics in Pinyin and traditional Chinese characters, as well as a rough English translation:

Happy Chinese New Year everybody!

wǒ gōngxǐ nǐ fācái, wo gōngxǐ nǐ jīngcǎi
我恭喜你发财 我恭喜你精彩
May you be prosperous, may you have excitement